Wall panels



July 4, 1967 G. LUTZE 3,328,933

WALL PANELS Filed June 29, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 4, 1967 G. LUTZE3,328,933

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WALL PANELS Filed June 29, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 113e 113 ea 113 113113ea113b'113c 115 United States Patent O 3,328,933 WALL PANELS GnterLtze, Untere Steigstrasse 32,

Reutlingen-Ohmenhausen, Germany Filed June 29, 1964, Ser. No. 378,703

Claims priority, application Germany, July 2, 1963, L 45,249; Mar. 12,1964, L 47,271 11 Claims. (Cl. 52-586) The present invention relates towalls of buildings.

More particularly, the present invention relates to wall panels whichare adapted to be assembled together to form at least part of the wallof a building, and in particular the Wall panels ofthe invention aresituated at the exterior of the building wall.

Wall panels of this type conventionally include metallic frames whichextend along the peripheries of the wall panels, so that when the panelsare assembled these metallic peripheral frames thereof dene gaps betweenthemselves. During certain times of yea-r, particularly in the winter,the interior of the building is of cour-se at a higher temperature thanthe atmosphere at the ex-terior of the building, with the result thatthe metallic frames of the wall panels conduct a considerable amount ofheat, outwardly from the building to the outer atmosphere. As -a resultthese metallic panel frames are generally quite cold and they form whatis the equivalent of a thermal bridge between the interior of thebuil-ding and the exterior thereof. As a result any moisture whichhappens to be in the atmosphere in the immediate vicinity of themetallic frames of the wall panels will condense to form undesirableliquid deposits at the gaps between the metallic panel frames, and thiscondensation is extremely undesirable.

It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provide awall panel of the above type which will reliably avoid condensation ofany moisture in the gaps between the Wall panels.

In addition, it is an object of the invention to provide `a wall panelstru-cture having elements capable of being inexpensively manufacturedby suitable extruders, for example, and capable of being easilyassembled so as to form the wall panel of the invention.

In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a structurewhich lends itself to quick and easy assembly for the purpose of forminga wall panel.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide alstructure which enables the wall panel to form inner passages capableof accommodating elongated elements required to serve the building, suchas, for example, electrical conductors.

It is furthermore an object of the present invention to provide a wallpanel which can conveniently be provided with an exterior finish layerto provide -a desired exterior surface for the wall panel.

The objects of the present invention also include the provision of awall panel which can accommodate an inner foam plastic filling.

Among the objects of the present invention is also a process formanufacturing a wall panel, this process enabling in particular thefilling of the foam plastic into the interior of the wall panel to becarried out in an extremely simple, rapid and eicient manner.

The objects of the present invention also include the provision of awall panel where fastening elements which hold the components of thewall panel together cannot damage articles such as elongated electricalconductors guided through spaces of the wall panel.

In addition, the objects of the present invention include a wall panelhaving peripheral frame portions joined to each other at bevelled endswhich dene corners of the wall panel and having'an insulating filling offoam plastic which is reliably prevented from having access to theadjoining bevelled corners of the wall panel.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a wallpanel having peripheral frame components which can quickly and easily besnapped together during their assembly.

In addition, it is an object of t-he present invention to provide a wallpanel which can easily be adapted to accommodate a socket for elementssuch as electrical conductors which extend along passages of the wallpanels.

The objects of the present invention further include a wall panelcapable of permitting air to -tlow between the interior and exterior ofthe wall panel.

Also, the objects of the present invention include a wall panelstructure which in combination with adjoining wall panels forms theequivalent of an elongated compression assembly capable of absorbingforces which act on the building and transmitting these forces to thefoundation of the building, for example.

With the above objects in -view the invention includes in a wall panelwhich is adapted to be assembled with additional wall panels to form atleast part of a wall, an outer metallic frame extending along anddefining the periphery of the wall panel, this outer metallic framelextending from the region of anouter face of the wall panel toward butterminating short of an inner face thereof. An inner non-metallic framealso extends along and deiines the periphery of the wall panel, thisinner frame being ixed to the metallic outer frame and extendingtherefrom inwardly to the Iregion of the inner face of the wall panel.Thus, with the structure of the invention the inner non-metallic framewill insulate the outer metallic frame from the interior of the buildingso that condensation resulting from the low temperature of the metallicframe during cold atmospheric conditions is reliably avoided.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with adidtional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. l shows a longitudinal sectional illustration of one possibleembodiment of a wall panel according to the invention, lthe centralintermediate portion of the wall panel being eliminated from FIG. 1 soas to provide more space for ilustrating the details of the structurealong the periphery of the wall panel;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view, on a scale ysmaller than that of FIG. 1, ofthe non-metallic inner frame before it is shaped to extend along theperiphery of the panel;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the panel of FIG. 1 as seen when lookingdownwardly on the wall panel of FIG. 1 with the inner plate of this Wallpanel removed as to clearly illustrate the structure of the innernon-metallic frame at the corners of the panel;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional illustration of another embodiment ofa wall panel according to the invention, FIG. 4 being taken along theline IV-IV of FIG. 5 in the direction of the arrows but showing thestructure 3 at both ends of the panel although only one end thereof isillustrated in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the structure of FIG. 4 at one end of the panelas it appears when looking from below FIG. 4 upwardly toward the paneland with the inner plate of the panel removed, parts of FIG. 4 alsobeing broken away to clearly show the details of the structure.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, the wall panel illustrated therein includesa metallic outer frame 11, for example, of the aluminum sheet and havingthe configuration of a container. This container which forms the outermetallic frame 11 has an outer plate portion 11a which extendscompletely across the entire panel and the outer frame has side plateportions 11b which extend inwardly from the edges of the plate portion11a so as to form a container therewith, the container being open at itsend distant from its plate portion 11a. The four side plate portions 11bof the rectangular outer frame 11 extend along and dene the periphery ofthe panel, and the outer metallic frame 11 of the panel extends from theregion of the outer face of the panel, shown at the bottom of FIG. l,inwardly toward but terminating short of the inner face of the panelwhich is situated at the top of FIG. 1. The end of the outer frame 11which is nearest to the inner face of the panel has inwardly directedflanges 11e extending inwardly from the side plate portions 11bwhich areintegral with the flanges 11C, and all the side plate portions 11b andflanges 11e are joined to each otherto form a continuous closedperipheral wall portion of the panel.

In accordance with the invention the panel includes an innernon-metallic frame 12 which also extends along and defines the peripheryof the panel, this inner non-metallic frame 12 being made of a suitableplastic which is springy, and the inner frame 12 is formed from anelongated extrusion having the prole which is apparent from thesectional illustration of FIG. 1.

The inner frame 12 is illustrated in FIG. 2 in the configuration whichit has before it is shaped to define the rectangular inner non-metallicframe which extends along the periphery of the panel. As may be seenfrom FIG. 2 the inner frame 12 is a section of the continuous extrusion12a, and when cut from the extrusion 12a the frame 12 has opposedinclined end faces 12e` which are bevelled as illustrated in FIG. 2. Inaddition the side of the extrusion which will be directed toward theinterior of the panel is formed with the V-notches 12b which terminateshort of the outer Wall of the frame `12 so that the entire elongatedframe 12 will still be a unitary structure, and these V-notches 12b aredefined by bevelled surfaces which abut against each other to form tightcorners when the inner frame 12 is shaped to the configuration of therectangular panel. This construction is shown most clearly in FIG. 3where the bevelled surfaces 12b of the V-notches are shown engaging eachother and where the bevelled end faces 12e are also shown engaging eachother at the upper right corner of the panel structure illustrated inFIG. 3. These inclined bevelled surfaces 12b and 12C preferably extendat a 45 angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the frame 12before it is shaped to the configuration shown in FIG. 3.

The prole of the inner frame 12 includes the walls 12d, 12e, 12j and 12gwhich cooperate to define an elongated hollow tubular structure for theinner frame 12, this tubular structure having a rectangular crosssection, and in the interior of this tubular structure the frame 12includes the partition 12h which divides the interior of the tubularportion of the frame 12 into the chambers 12i and 12k. The walls 12d and12e are formed with openings 12m through which air can pass.

The Wall 12g is integrally formed with an angular portion 12n whichextends at its free edge to the plane of the outer wall 12d and thisangular portion 12n defines in the side of the panel a notch cooperatingwith a notch of an adjoining panel, as shown in dot-dash lines at theleft of FIG. l, to form an elongated space for receiving the relativelyrigid elongated strip 13 which serves to assemble the adjoining panelstogether in the coplanar relationship indicated in FIG. 1. The portion12n of the frame 12 is additionally formed integrally with a furtherangular portion 12p which defines with the portion 12n an elongatedgroove which -receives the inwardly directed flanges 11C of the outermetallic frame 11, and the thickness of the groove corresponds to thethickness of the flanges 11C for receiving the latter in a fluid-tightmanner, although if desired a suitable sealing material can be situatedin this groove to assure fluid-tight connection between the inner andouter 4panels so that moisture cannot have access to the interior of thepanel. It is possible to manufacture the portions 12u and 12p with aprecision which is sufficient to provide for the flanges 11e` a fitwhich is tight enough to prevent the entry of moisture.

The plastic extrusion material used for the inner frame 12 is of aspringy elastic nature so that it can, without the use of any specialstructure, simply expand due to its own inherent resiliency onto theflanges 11C. The frame 12 is shaped to the general configuration of thepanel and then compressed inwardly to a size small enough to permit itto be introduced into the space surrounded by the flanges 11C, and whenthe groove formed by portions 1211 and 12p is at the elevation of theflanges 11c the frame 12 is released so that it will expand onto theflanges which are received in the groove, as indicated in FIG. l. Inthis way the inner non-metallic frame 12 is releasably fixed with theouter metallic frame 11 and extends therefrom inwardly to the region ofthe inner face of the panel.

The space which is defined by the interior of the container 11 and theextension thereof provided by the inner frame 12 is filled with a foamplastic mass 14 which is introduced into this space in a non-hardenedand non-foamed condition, the space being filled by the plastic mass 14after it foams and hardens. In order to retain the foam plastic in thisinterior space of the panel, the inner plate 15, which extendscompletely across the panel and which is made of gypsum, for example, is-placed against the wall 12jc of the frame 12 immediately after the foamplastic is introduced into the interior of the panel and is fastened tothe frame 12, as by screws 16, the inner plate 15 thereafter forming apermanent part of the panel, so that in this way the foam plastic mass14 has its expansion confined to the interior of the panel.

If the foam plastic material has the property of adhering to the innerplate 15, a fastening means 16 need not be used, and instead the innerplate 15 is pressed against the wall 12j with a suitable press untilafter the process of foaming and hardening of the plastic mass has beencompleted. The foam plastic by adhering to the plate 15 will in thiscase maintain it assembled with the frame 12. It is also possible tointroduce into the interior of the panel a different type of insulationmaterial which can either be poured in a loose, particulate conditioninto the panel or which can be introduced or glued to the interior ofthe panel in the form of one or more solid pieces which are placed inthe interior of the panel.

Particularly where the outer frame 11 is made of aluminum sheet metal,the wall panel can be provided at the exterior of the outer plateportion 11a with an extremely thin layer 17 of a suitable finishmaterial situated at the exterior of the plate portion 11a and havingdirected away from the latter an outer surface which forms the outerface of the panel. The inner face of the panel is formed by the exposedsurface of the inner plate 15.

In order to be able to Iabsorb the pressure in the interior of the panelduring foaming of the plastic mass 14 and pressing of the plate 15against the inner frame 12, the panel is placed during the foamingprocess in a suitable form which is strong enough to withstand thefoaming pressure.

The embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5includes a rectangular metallic outer frame part of which is formed byan element 110 made of sheet metal and having an outer plate portion110a extending across the entire panel in the region of its outer face.This outer plate portion 110a is integrally joined at its edges toinwardly directed flanges 110b which are relatively narrow. Theseilanges are connected with metallic side plate portions 111 whichtogether with the sheet metal member 110 forms the outer metallic framemeans of this embodiment. The side plate portions 111 are suitablybevelled at their ends so as to form tight corners where they abut eachother. The side plate portions 11 are cut from an extrusion having theprofile shown in FIG. 4, and along one edge this profile includes t-helegs 111a 4and 111b which are of different lengths and which are spacedfrom each other by a distance corresponding to the thickness of thelianges 110b so as to form the grooves 111e which receive the flanges110b with a fairly tight fit, and in this way the parts 110 and 111 areHuid-tightly fixed to each other to form the outer metallic frame ofthis embodiment. The depth of the groove 111c is greater than anypossible tolerance variations in the width of the anges 110b so thatthese iianges do not completely ll the grooves 111C. The legs 111b arelonger than the legs 111a and have at their free edges inwardly directedportions 111ba which directly engage the outer plate portion 110a.

At its portion which is directed toward Ithe inner face of the panel,each side plate 111 has a profile of substantially U-shapedconfiguration, and the prole portion 111d denes a notch in the side ofthe panel aligned with a notch of an adjoining panel, as shown indot-dash lines at the right of FIG. 4, to dene the space which receivesthe strip 112 which maintains a pair of adjoining panels assembledtogether in coplanar relationship.

The exterior limb lllda of the U-shaped profile portion 111d is providedat its surface which is directed toward the inner face of the panel witha pair of integral elongated projections 111db which form V-grooves111de providing an elongated dovetail channel 111dd directed ltoward theinner face of the panel, and it will be noted that each projection 111dbis itself of a dovetail cross section.

The dovetail channel 111dd receives the springy dovetailprojection'portion 113ml yof the inner non-metallic springy plasticframe 113 which at the sides of its dovetail projection has elongatedprojecting por-tions of dovetail cross section mating with and receiving-the dovetail projections 111db so that the inner non-metallic frame 113of this embodiment is in this way fixed to the outer metallic frame andextends from the latter to the region of the inner face of the panel.

The inner frame 113 is in the form of a plastic extrusion of tubularrectangular profile, and the extrusion includes an inner partition 113bseparating the interior of the frame 113 into a pair of elongatedpassages 113C and 113d. This partition 113b is perpendicular to theplate portion 11061 of the outer metallic frame and is situatedapproximately at the same distance from the outer surface of the sideplate portions 111 as the nnermost part of the U-shaped prole portion111d. As a result the passage 113d forms the interior of an inner hollowtubular peripheral portion of the inner frame which extends inwardlybeyond the side plate portions 111 of the outer frame.

The inner frame 113 is made up of four elongated sections which,however, are not joined by beveled ends. Instead those sections of theinner frame 113 which extend along the top and bot-tom of the panel, ina horizontal direction, lhave ya length equal to the entire length ofthe panel and extend completely across the latter. The verticallyextending end sections of the inner frame 113 extend between thehorizontal sections of the inner 6 frame 113. This arrangement is shownmost clearly in FIG. 5.

At their surfaces which are directed away from the metallic frametow-ard the inner face of the panel, these sections of the frame 113 areformed with transverse ribs 113ea which extend completely across theframe and dene at these surfaces 113e elongated grooves. The inner plate114 of the panel engages these ribs to form with these transversegrooves elongated passages through which air can escape from theinterior of the panel during foaming of the foam plastic mass 115. Inthe event that this latter mass does not have the property of adheringto the inner plate 114 so as to hold the latter assembled with theremainder of the panel, the fastening means'117 in the form of suitablescrews may be used for fixing the inner plate 114 to the inner frame113. It is to be noted that these screws communicate only with theelongated passages 113C and are maintained separate from the passages113d by the partitions 113b. The foam plastic mass 115 is introducedinto the panel of FIGS. 4 and 5 in the same way as described above inconnection with the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3.

The plate portion l10n is provided at its exterior with a thin finishlayer 118 of any desired material, and this layer 11S has an exposedsurface which forms the outer face of the panel.

The inner face of the panel is surface of the inner plate 114.

FIG. 5 shows a notch 119 formed only in the passage 113d of the uppersection of the frame 113 of FIG. 5. When the panels are assembled theopen ends of the horizontal inner frame sections will adjoin each otherso that the passages 113e and 113d of a series of horizontal framesections will form continuations of each other so as to provide in thisway elongated passages extending from panel to panel and capable ofaccommodating elongated elements such as electrical conductors. It is tobe noted that the passage 113d of the vertical frame section 113 of FIG.5 is also cut into by the notch 119. In this way there is formed inthese adjoining frame sections 113 as well as in a corner of the foamplastic mass 115 a recess, which can also extend through the inner plate114, if desired, to accommodate a connection box, plug assembly, or thelike for the electrical conductors, so that these conductors can beguided out of the passages 113d of a series of .horizontal sections 113through such a lbox, plug assembly or the like. By the arrangement ofthe passages 113d extending inwardly beyond the U-shaped prole portion111d of the metallic outer frame, it is possible to cut the inner framesections at the passages 113d thereof without any danger ofsimultaneously cutting the U-shaped profile portion 111:1'. Thepartitions 113a1 in addition to stiffening the frame sections 113 serveto separate the sections 113C from the passages 113d so that conductors,conduits, or the like extending through the latter passages cannot bedamaged by fasteners such as screws, 117 which extend into the passages113e, since the partitions prevent the structure extending in thepassages 113d from having access to the passages 113e.

It is possible to provide the side plate portions 111 with a profilewhich includes structure forming from all of these side plate portionsof a plurality of panels of a wall a known compression assembly orframework capable of absorbing forces acting on a corner of a wall of aVbuilding which includes the panel of the present invention in such away that when, for example, a horizontal force acts on such a corner,such a force resulting from the action of the wind pressing against thebuilding, for example, this force will be transmitted by the frameworkformed by the series of plate portions 111 to the foundation of thebuilding. l

It is to be noted that in order to join the inner frame sections 113 tothe side plate portions 111 of the outer metallic frame it is notnecessary to slide the sections 113 longitudinally of the plate portions111 to be received in formed by the exposed the dovctail channelsthereof. Instead it is only necessary to align the sections 113 with theplate portions 111 and press the sections 113 toward the front face ofthe panel so that the dovetail portions of the sections 113 will simplysnap into the dovetail channels.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofwalls differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied inwall panels, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown,since various modifications and structural changes may be made withoutdeparting in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. In a wall panel adapted to be assembled with additional wall panelsto form therewith at least part of a wall, in combination, an outermetallic frame extending along and defining the periphery of the wallpanel, said outer metallic frame having in the region of an outer faceof said panel an outer plate portion extending completely across thepanel and said outer frame having a plurality of side plate portionsrespectively extending from the edges of said outer plate portioninwardly toward but terminating short of an inner face of said panel,said side plate portions and outer plate portion of said outer framedefining a container; an inner non-metallic frame of hollow tubularconstruction and consisting of springy elastic material also extendingalong and defining the periphery of said panel, said inner frameextending inwardly from said side plate portions to the region of saidinner face of said panel and having a permanent tendency to flex awayfrom said side plate portions; securing means for securing said innerand outer frames and including interengaging portions respectivelyprovided on said outer and inner frames and being maintained ininterengagernent by said tendency of said inner frame to flex away fromsaid side plate portions; an inner plate extending completely across thepanel and engaging an end surface of said inner frame distant from saidouter frame, said inner plate closing said container and having anexposed surface dening the inner face of said panel; and a foam plasticfilling said container and the space surrounded by said inner frame andengaging an inner surface of said inner plate which is directed towardsaid outer plate, said foam plastic adhering to said inner surface ofsaid inner plate for holding the latter in engagement with said innerframe.

2. In a panel as recited in claim 1, said inner frame being constitutedby a single elongated plastic body having a pair of adjoining ends, saidpanel having corners and said elongated plastic body being formed beforeit is shaped to the periphery of said panel with notches which provideat said corners bevelled surfaces on said frame which adjoin each otherWhen the latter is shaped to the configuration of said panel.

3. A wall panel as defined in claim 1, wherein said inner framecomprises an elongated interior partition subdividing the interior ofsaid inner frame into a pair of elongated cham-bers at least one ofwhich is adapted to accommodate elongated elements, such as electricalconductors and the like.

4. A wall panel as defined in claim 1, one of said frames being providedwith a longitudinal notch extending therealong and adapted to form witha similar notch of an adjoining panel a space for receiving a structurefor determining the positions of adjoining panels relative to oneanother.

S. In a wall panel adapted to be assembled with additional wall panelsto form therewith at least part of a wall, in combination, an outermetallic frame extending along and defining the peripheral outline ofthe wall panel, said outer metallic frame having in the region of anouter face of said panel an outer plate portion extending completelyacross the panel and having an inwardly directed surface, and said outerframe having a plurality of said plate portions respectively extendingfrom the edges of said outer plate portion inwardly toward butterminating short of an inner face of said panel; an inner non-metallicframe of hollow tubular construction also extending along and definingthe periphery of said panel, said inner frame extending inwardly fromsaid side plate portions to the region of said inner face of said paneland being so configurated as to be located wholly within said peripheraloutline defined by said outer frame, said inner frame defining with saidside plate portions and said outer plate portion of said outer frame acontainer having an open end; securing means joining said inner andouter frames t0- gether and including interengaging portionsrespectively provided on said outer and inner frames and engaging oneanother; an inner plate extending completely across said container atsaid open end thereof, covering said inner frame and engaging an endsurface of said inner frame of hollow tubular construction which isdistant from said outer frame, said inner plate being secured to saidinner frame closing said open end of said container, and having anexposed first surface defining the inner face of said panel and a secondsurface facing the interior of the container; and insulating materialfilling said container intermediate said inwardly directed surface ofsaid outer plate portion and said second surface of said inner panel andbeing in engagement with both of these surfaces.

6. In a panel as recited in claim 5, said inner frame being formed froma section of elongated extruded plastic profile which is shaped to theconfiguration of the periphery of said panel.

7. A wall panel as defined in claim 5; and further comprising alongitudinal notch provided in at least one lateral face of one of saidframes and being adapted to form with a similar notch of an adjoiningpanel a space for receiving a structure for determining the positions ofadjoining panels relative to each other.

8. A wall panel as defined in claim 5, wherein said end surface of saidinner frame is provided with a plurality of transverse ribs distributedtherealong to define with said inner plate passages through which aircan pass.

9. A wall panel as defined in claim 5; and further comprising aninterior partition arranged within said hollow tubular inner frame andseparating that hollow inner peripheral portion of said inner `framewhich is located inwardly of said outer frame from the remainder of saidinner frame.

10. A wall panel as defined in claim 5, wherein said side plate portionsare releasably connected to said outer plate portion; said interengagingportions including elongated recesses extending along edge portions ofthe respective side plate portions, and free edge portions provided onsaid outer plate portion and received in respective ones of saidelongated recesses.

11. A wall panel as dened in claim 5; and further comprising alongitudinal notch provided in at least one of said side plate portionsextending along the latter and being adapted to form with a similarnotch of an adjoining panel a space for receiving a structure fordetermining the positions of adjoining panels relative to each other.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS (Other references on followingpage) 9 UNITED STATES PATENTS Frohnapel 52291 Giard 49-386 X Eagles52--404 X Kenedy 52--582 X Sanunders 52.--619 X Ries 52-619 X Soddy52-309 X Carbary 49-483 X Heifner 52-309 X 1 0 FOREIGN PATENTS 7/ 1960Great Britain. 9/ 1962 Great Britain.

5 DAVID I. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

5. IN A WALL PANEL ADAPTED TO BE ASSEMBLED WITH ADDITIONAL WALL PANELSTO FORM THEREWITH AT LEAST PART OF A WALL, IN COMBINATION, AN OUTERMETALLIC FRAME EXTENDING ALONG AND DEFINING THE PERIPHERAL OUTLINE OFTHE WALL PANEL, SAID OUTER METALLIC FRAME HAVING IN THE REGION OF ANOUTER FACE OF SAID PANEL AN OUTER PLATE PORTION EXTENDING COMPLETELYACROSS THE PANEL AND HAVING AN INWARDLY DIRECTED SURFACE, AND SAID OUTERFRAME HAVING A PLURALITY OF SAID PLATE PORTIONS RESPECTIVELY EXTENDINGFROM EDGES OF SAID OUTER PLATE PORTION INWARDLY TOWARD BUT TERMINATINGSHORT OF AN INNER FACE OF SAID PANEL; AN INNER NON-METALLIC FRAME OFHOLLOW TUBULAR CONSTRUCTION ALSO EXTENDING ALONG AND DEFINING THEPERIPHERY OF SAID PANEL, SAID INNER FRAME EXTENDING INWARDLY FROM SAIDSIDE PLATE PORTIONS TO THE REGION OF SAID INNER FACE OF SAID PANEL ANDBEING SO CONFIGURATED AS TO BE LOCATED WHOLLY WITHIN SAID PERIPHERALOUTLINE DEFINED BY SAID OUTER FRAME, SAID INNER FRAME DEFINING WITH SAIDSIDE PLATE PORTIONS AND SAID OUTER PLATE PORTION OF SAID OUTER FRAME ACONTAINER HAVING AN OPEN END; SECURING MEANS JOINING SAID INNER ANDOUTER FRAMES TOGETHER AND INCLUDING INTERENGAGING PORTIONS RESPECTIVELYPROVIDED ON SAID OUTER AND INNER FRAMES AND ENGAGING ONE ANOTHER; ANINNER PLATE EXTENDING COMPLETELY ACROSS SAID CONTAINER AT SAID OPEN ENDTHEREOF, COVERING SAID INNER FRAME AND ENGAGING AN END SURFACE OF SAIDINNER FRAME OF HOLLOW TUBULAR CONSTRUCTION WHICH IS DISTANT FROM SAIDOUTER FRAME, SAID INNER PLATE BEING SECURED TO SAID INNER FRAME CLOSINGSAID OPEN END OF SAID CONTAINER, AND HAVING AN EXPOSED FIRST SURFACEDEFINING THE INNER FACE OF SAID PANEL AND A SECOND FACING THE INTERIOROF THE CONTAINER; AND INSULATING MATERIAL FILLING SAID CONTAINERINTERMEDIATE SAID INWARDLY DIRECTED SURFACE OF SAID OUTER PLATE PORTIONAND SAID SECOND SURFACE OF SAID PANEL AND BEING IN ENGAGEMENT WITH BOTHOF THESE SURFACES.